A few pics from Christmas.

We had a great white Christmas in Idaho. We were snowed in for most of the time, but it was wonderful to be home and with family. I loved spending time with my mom in the kitchen, I never laugh so hard as when I am with her. Our little baby on the way had an amazing Christmas from everyone. Thanks to all the Grandma's and Grandpa's and family for all the fun stuff she received. I have had a great time putting it all away in the baby nursery.

My brother Tyler and his family were able to spend most of the time up at my mom's with us. Their little boy RJ was inseparable with Presley, so he just joined the family picture.

We were all excited Christmas morning. Even Presley got in on the action of opening gifts. This is her new Christmas sweater!

Even Santa remembered Presley with this little toy, sadly it was destroyed within an hour and stuffing strewn throughout the house.

Santa brought Brandon a helmet of his own. He is now fully ready to ride!

Cousin Asia and our little baby to be got tutu's from my mom! I can't wait to use it on my little girl, and get a picture of the two cousins wearing them.

Brandon's biggest surprise was a Wii from my parents. It will be a fun game for the parents to be to play together. Thanks mom and dad!

Here are the boys playing the Wii, Tyler got one too! I guess you are never too old for toys.

We gave Asia and RJ a little igloo fort with a crawl through tunnel entrance. It was a hit.

Little RJ braved the tunnel right after his sister.

Even my dad played the fun Grandpa and got in the fort.

Presley and RJ on their afternoon nap.

It was great to see Dylan, although they could not make it up Christmas day because of the weather, it was fun to celebrate a day late with my favorite 11 yr old boy! Grandpa and Grandma gave him a cell phone for Christmas and it is clear that it will be easy to keep in touch with him, I think my last 20 texts are from him!

Asia is getting ready for the traditional Christmas snowmachine fun.

When the weather finally calmed down a bit, we drove down to see Brandon's Grandparents. Poor Grandma fell and hit her eye on the kitchen counter, we wish her a quick recovery. It was so good to see them over the holidays.

8's Tag

8 Favorite TV Shows

1. 24 (new season in January!!!)

2. Brothers and Sisters

3. Grey's Anatomy

4. Desperate Housewives

5. Friends (Re-runs, I can't get enough)

6. What Not to Wear

7. Jon & Kate Plus 8

8. I Love Lucy 

8 Things I Did Yesterday

1. Made 4 different phone calls to my mom

2. Went to 4 different stores to track down Dylan's Christmas

3. Ate a horrible quick lunch at a Wendy's drivethru

4. Taught two creative classes at an elementary school

5. Searched Tai Pan Trading for some Christmas Gifts

6. Bought two new baby outfits (I can't resist)

7. Made a Lasagna for dinner

8. Watched "The Dark Knight" with Brandon

8 Things I Look Forward To

1. Spending Christmas in Idaho

2. Having a baby girl!!

3. Seeing Brandon as a first time Daddy

4. Seeing Presley on Thursday (she has been with my parents for two weeks)

5. Painting and Decorating the Nursery after Christmas

6. The new gym opening just down the street in January

7. Brandon finishing his Thesis, and then after two years, school

8. Meeting our new nephew in February

8 Favorite Restaurants

1. Spaghetti Factory

2. Spaghetti Mamas

3. Cheesecake Factory

4. The Blue Iguana

5. California Pizza Kitchen

6. Kneaders Bakery

7. Anything Thai

8. The Roof Top (for special occasions)

8 Things on my Wish List

1. Have at least 3 kids

2. Travel to Italy

3. Own a studio or be a Professor

4. Buy a mom car (volvo cross country/GMC Acadia or Tahoe)

5. See my family more

6. Buy Brandon a truck and then a ski boat

7. A nice new home where we commute less

8. Someday, go through the Temple

I tag anyone who has not done this yet. It is fun to see people's favorites.

I was digging through my camera bag and came across these old pictures from August 08. This is the last time the whole Hoopes family got together! Lets hope that snowmobiling on Christmas day goes better! 

My favorite little 11yr old nephew, Dylan, had the first accident. He was riding with Brandon and Tyler and wanted to do all the things the big boys do. Tyler was guiding Dylan on a tight turn when the fore-wheeler started to tip. Dylan fell off and I don't know how, but Tyler managed to get between Dylan and the machine and catapult it upward. It knocked Tyler off a 30 foot drop where he landed in a tree, and this is what became of the fore-wheeler.

This is not a repeat image! It is a second fore-wheeler. While the rest of us went out on the boat, my dad and Grandpa Bob stayed at camp to do some more fore-wheeling. When it got a little too steep on the trail Grandpa let off the gas (never a good idea) and the fore-wheeler rolled right over top of him. This is where it landed.

With a few strong men folk, they were able to un-tangle the machine, and believe it or not they could actually drive it down the mountain!

Over 80 and invincible! Standing by his proud wreckage a bruised Grandpa Bob stood triumphantly! We were all just glad that Grandpa, Dylan and Tyler only walked away with minor injuries.

While the boys at camp were crashing down mountains, the rest of us enjoyed some time on the lake. This is Brandon helping Dylan get ready. Dylan was such a big boy, with a little help from Brandon in the water to get up he was skiing with the best of them.

A newly pregnant me on the boat. This is the trip where we excitedly told my family we were having a baby. This is my mom, skiing, this little girl could not ask for a cooler grandma!

Asia, my little niece who is now two, cheering Grandma on!

All in all, it was an eventful camping trip. We are very lucky that everyone walked away with no broken bones. I can't wait to have everyone together again for Christmas. Hopefully, we will all have just as much fun and walk away just as healthy. I love my family and can't wait to spend the holidays in Idaho this year.

After a wonderful Thanksgiving with the Blaser's and the Segura's, Brandon and I took a quick getaway to Hawaii. We had a great time! It was a last little adventure before I get too big to play. We spent a couple of days on the North shore while staying with Brandon's old roommate and his wife and then a few days around Waikiki. I sat most of the time under a large beach umbrella and watched Brandon surf and snorkel, but we both had a great and relaxing time.

This is us at the Polynesian Cultural Center. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip! 

I really enjoyed the food! I loved everything pineapple, the drinks, the ice cream and all the fresh fruit.

There were a couple of beaches where the turtles would just swim right up on shore. They were protected areas so I guess they were just used to the people. Turtles were always one of my favorite things to see scuba diving, they look so out of place and amazing under water.

Yes it is a maternity swim suit! Ha Ha, my first time in Hawaii and I have a huge belly!

This is a picture of Brandon cliff diving (it is the same spot off the movie "Forgetting Sarah Marshell." After this dive he went spear fishing and being the man that he is caught a little nemo fish!

Being around 6 months pregnant I sat the dive out, however I am not sure if I would have been able to get back up the rock even if I weren't pregnant. This is Brandon and his friend Mose, the wives waited at the top!

One of the overlook points on the island.

Brandon during his day of surfing. I sat under a huge beach umbrella and lounged! I think we both got to do what we love!

We had a great trip, big belly and all! I have the sweetest and most adventurous husband. There is ever a dull moment when I am married to him. Thanks for the great trip!

Thanksgiving List

10 Things I am incredibly thankful for this year.

1. I am thankful for the growing baby girl that is soon to arrive.

2. I am thankful for my husband Brandon and how hard he tries to make me happy.

3. I am thankful for my mom and dad, two of my best friends, and the best examples of how to be good, honest and loving people through this life.

4. I am thankful for all of our family and the support that they give us in their own unique ways.

5. I am thankful for my little baby dog, Presley, and the fact that she is always excited when I walk through the door.

6. I am thankful for our home, and how we have been able to grow and learn as a family within its walls.

7. I am thankful that Brandon and I had the opportunity to receive an education and the doors that will open for our future.

8. I am thankful for the renewed hope in America and the prospect for a better future for my daughter.

9. I am thankful for my calling as Primary Secretary and all that I learn from the little children each week.

10. I am thankful for the direction our lives are taking and can't wait to see what the future holds.

It's not over until the fat lady tells a joke!

This weekend is my final performance with RDT, if you can call it a performance. It is our fall family show, and apparently some of the higher-ups at RDT find a pregnant woman aesthetically unpleasing onstage. So for my farewell performance I walk onstage, stand behind boxes and tell a joke! That's it! No dancing for this mother-to-be. Luckily I can laugh about the whole situation. I am not uncomfortable in a leotard but I guess it would make some people feel uneasy. I forget that most of the dancing world does not like to present "real people" onstage. So I say goodbye to my professional dancing days for now with a funny little joke about a frog.

Happy Holidays from Our Family to Yours!

We are looking forward to a wonderful holiday season. I have to admit I am already listening to Christmas music in the car, and trying to convince Brandon to put up the lights this weekend. All I am missing is a big snow storm and I will be completely content and ready for Christmas. Brandon is being a wonderful husband and taking me on a vacation to Hawaii in the beginning of December (I am sure it will be the last one we take for a little while)! It will be a great way to kick off the season together. Then it will be back to the hopefully snowy weather, although I might not be up for all the fun winter sports this year! Christmas is my favorite time of year, and we have so much to celebrate in our lives.